Did you know the quality of indoor air is anywhere from 2 to over 100 times more polluted than outdoor air?
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “Levels of many common pollutants of indoor air have been shown to be 2 to 5 times higher and occasionally more than 100 times higher than they are outdoors.” This fact is somewhat alarming, considering most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. In fact, the American Medical Association reports 1/3 of our national health bill is directly attributable to indoor air pollution. Furthermore, those most susceptible, such as the young, elderly, and infirm, spend the greatest amount of time indoors.
The “Tightening Effect”
The United States has made great strides in cleaning up the outdoor air of our nation’s cities. More recently, however, a significant concern has been raised regarding the quality of the air we breathe indoors. Indoor air pollution has been aggravated by the recent construction technique of “tightening” a home to increase energy conservation. These “tightening” techniques decrease the ability of outdoor air to enter the home. Therefore, the ability to exchange polluted indoor air with cleaner outdoor air is decreased. Hence, an increase in toxic, allergic and infectious manifestations of building-related illnesses such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asthma, Legionnaire’s disease, influenza and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Source of Indoor Air Pollutants
Indoor air pollutants come from a variety of sources, including the burning of combustible fuels such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products, damp carpets, paint (including lead-based paint), paint strippers, household cleaning products, structural cabinet, and furniture building materials (including asbestos-containing insulation and formaldehyde-containing furniture), the soil under and around buildings, as well as, many other human activities. New sources of pollutants can be introduced via new products such as pressed-wood. These new products can give off toxic gases causing sickness incidences previously unknown to most people.
